Nirmala Sitharaman: India Must Lead Global South With Its Own Economic Models

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, speaking at the Delhi School of Economics, urged the academic community to rethink classical economics and move towards an integrated, India-centric approach. Highlighting sustainability and technological disruption as key challenges, she called for collaboration between economists, technologists, sociologists, and environmental scientists to shape policies for rapid and balanced growth. Referring to global climate challenges and the upcoming COP 29 in Brazil, she emphasised the need for India to create its own economic models suited to its realities — not merely adapt Western theories. Sitharaman underscored that India must lead the Global South by developing original frameworks that reflect local challenges, inform policymaking, and ensure sustainable progress.